LONDON, June 15 -- The UK government has announced plans to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, marking one of the most significant digital safety measures proposed in the country.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government intends to introduce restrictions preventing under-16s from using social media services, arguing that a complete ban for children in this age group is the most appropriate course of action.

The proposal follows a public consultation launched by the government last month to examine ways of limiting young people's access to social media and related digital devices. Officials say the initiative is aimed at protecting children's mental health, improving educational outcomes a...